After defeating the Beast Tamer, A.J., Ash and his friends continued their journey toward Vermilion City.
While walking along the coastline, Brock's Zubat—out on its flying training—accidentally spotted a tall, striking lighthouse standing alone on a cliffside.
"That lighthouse looks unusual… definitely not a normal navigational one," Brock pointed out.
Ash immediately recognized it.
"That's Professor Bill's Lighthouse! He's a researcher specializing in the Pokémon storage and transfer system!"
(They met briefly in Chapter 4 at the Pokémon Center.)
"Professor Bill? The guy we met back in Viridian City?" Misty recalled.
"That's him. We should go say hi. And maybe ask him a few things about Pokémon."
Ash also remembered that an important event from the original story was connected to this place.
The three of them arrived at the lighthouse and knocked.
The door opened—Professor Bill himself. He looked delighted to see Ash.
"Oh! Pallet Town's Ash! And Misty—ah, and this young man is…?"
"Hello, Professor Bill. I'm Brock from Pewter City," Brock introduced himself politely.
"Welcome, welcome! Come in!" Bill said enthusiastically.
The inside of the lighthouse was filled with research equipment and rows of screens, giving the place a busy, high-tech feel.
"Professor, are you still researching the transfer system?" Ash asked.
"I am," Bill replied, "but lately I've been studying something else."
His expression turned serious as he played a strange, fuzzy audio signal.
"During late nights, I've been receiving a very ancient… very sorrowful Pokémon cry. The signal seems to come from out at sea. I tried translating it, but the only fragments I can pick up are words like 'waiting' and 'return.'
I suspect a very old, very powerful Pokémon is roaming the nearby waters—searching for something."
He looked out toward the vast ocean, a mix of curiosity and concern in his voice.
"I've been trying to pinpoint its location, but the signal keeps fading. I have a small request… If you're free tonight, could you help me keep watch from the top of the lighthouse? More eyes are always better."
Ash and the others exchanged a glance and nodded.
They were more than willing to help investigate something so mysterious.
---
Night fell. A thick fog rose over the ocean.
Ash, Misty, Brock, and Bill waited atop the lighthouse, scanning the dark sea.
Even Pikachu twitched its ears—clearly sensing something unusual.
Suddenly—
Ash's Aura flared.
He felt a massive, ancient, sorrowful presence slowly approaching through the mist!
"Professor, something's coming! Over there!"
He pointed sharply.
At almost the same moment, Bill's instruments screamed with alarms.
Through the dense fog, a colossal shadow emerged—its outline growing clearer by the second.
A giant Dragonite.
(Back then translated simply as "Giant Dragonite," though it was functionally a normal Dragonite—just absurdly huge.)
Its low, echoing cry rolled across the sea, filled with indescribable loneliness—as if it had traveled across centuries searching for a lost home or companion.
"Oh my—it's enormous!" Misty gasped, covering her mouth.
"That cry… so this is the owner of the ancient signal?" Brock was stunned.
Bill frantically took notes, trembling with excitement.
"Incredible! An individual this large—it's practically a living fossil!"
Ash, meanwhile, recalled something.
Besides this massive Dragonite, there were three other giant Pokémon—Ancient Gengar, Ancient Alakazam, Ancient Jigglypuff.
All four were unusually large.
And in his previous life, he had seen a theory:
This giant Dragonite might be connected to the Ancient Pokémon.
Right now, Ash stared at the Dragonite.
Through Aura, he felt the creature's deep, overwhelming sadness more clearly than anyone else.
He focused.
He slowly extended a thread of Aura outward—gentle, calm—trying to make contact.
He didn't send curiosity or investigation.
He sent understanding. Comfort.
And… he subtly conveyed hints about the Ancient Pokémon—sparking the Dragonite's curiosity.
The giant Dragonite sensed this faint but pure goodwill.
Its enormous head turned slightly toward the lighthouse.
Through the mist, its ancient eyes met Ash's for a brief, unforgettable moment.
The sorrow faded—just a touch.
Replaced by curiosity.
And… gratitude?
It didn't come closer.
Instead, it released another long, echoing cry—this time gentler—and slowly turned away.
Its gigantic silhouette melted back into the fog, disappearing into the endless sea.
Silence followed.
"…It's gone," Misty whispered.
"It looked at us… didn't it?" Brock said uncertainly.
Professor Bill stared at Ash, astonished.
"Ash, did you do something? I detected a strange energy—its reaction to you was… different!"
Ash didn't mention Aura directly.
"I just felt… that it was very sad. So I tried sending out some goodwill. Maybe it hasn't sensed kindness for a very long time."
He also kept quiet about the Ancient Pokémon.
After all, that ruin hadn't been discovered yet—saying too much would raise suspicion.
"No matter what—this is an incredible discovery!"
Bill exclaimed excitedly.
"Thank you, Ash. You've given me a massive breakthrough! That Pokémon must have an extraordinary story behind it."
---
[Ding! Host assisted Professor Bill in observing the Giant Dragonite, made initial mental contact, and uncovered a fragment of ancient legend. Reward: 800 World Points.]
[Current World Points: 5800]
---
The system rewarded him generously—proof that this event touched on the deeper mysteries of the Pokémon world.
The next day, Ash and the others bid farewell to the eager, research-driven Bill and continued toward Vermilion City.
The encounter with the giant Dragonite—brief yet awe-inspiring—left a profound impression on them all.
And it made Ash even more aware of how vast and mysterious this world truly was.
(A/N: As for the giant Dragonite and Ancient Pokémon… I'll definitely find a way to fill in that storyline later.)